Councillor calls for PADs project support

Published:09:03Thursday 05 March 2015

Share this article

A Deeside councillor is calling for local people to get involved with an ongoing project to install Public Access Defibrillators (PADs).

Aboyne, Upper Deeside and Donside councillor Katrina Farquhar has been circulating a letter to local residents with the aim of getting more people involved in a joint project by Mid Deeside Community Council and Mid Deeside Ltd to install life saving equipment in the area.

The first PAD has been installed on the external wall of the Ambulance Station in Aboyne and is available to all 24/7. The official opening of the defibrillator will take place this Saturday, March 7, at 11am at the Ambulance Station.

The second PAD, due shortly, will be installed on the external wall of the Boat Inn in Aboyne.

Plans are under way to install further equipment in the area, which will result in a total of seven or eight defibrillators in the covered by Mid Deeside Ltd and Mid Deeside Community Council. These two groups have formed a small project team to lead the project and are enjoying successful progress to date.

The group has also been supported by the Bellwood Area Residents Association (BARA), as well as the Scottish Ambulance Service and the Tarland and Mid Deeside Community First Responders.

The community council has been very involved in where the PADs will be located and obtaining permission for their installation and running costs as well attending training themselves along with the Board of MDL.

MDL and MDCC in collaboration are willing to offer their help by way of advice and support where possible to other community councils and groups who are interested in siting PADs in their own communities.

The group can also offer free training in effective CPR and in familiarisation with defibrillators thanks to the Heart Start Course given by Dr Jack Taylor and the First Responders. All trainers are qualified Heart Start Instructors.

Cllr Farquhar said: “All that is needed for this is a venue and people interested in attending a two hour course and they will do the rest. By the end of April over 100 people in the Mid Deeside footprint will have already benefited from this training.”

The project group is currently offering g to hold a meeting with representatives from all communities interested in siting PADs in their area. The venue could be Aboyne Community Centre or any other local village hall available.